Magnetic Tool Holder

ABSTRACT

A magnetic tool holder includes a body having a bottom and side walls defining an elongate central channel, wherein the bottom defines a first plane and ends of the side walls define a second plane, wherein the body further includes side edges laterally extending from said side walls in the second plane, and outer side walls extending from the side edges back to the first plane; and at least one magnet in the elongate central channel, the at least one magnet having a tool securing surface positioned substantially coplanar with the second plane. The outer side walls configured in this manner greatly increase the magnetic flux in both planes or surfaces of the holder.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/485,553, entitled “Magnetic Tool Holder,” filed Apr. 12, 2017, whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a magnetic tool holder and, more particularly,to a magnetic holder for sockets and similar tools which canadvantageously secure various different types, sizes and shapes offerrous tool components.

Tool holders such as socket wrench holders and the like are used fororganizing socket wrenches and components thereof, and such tools aretypically used in a wide variety of fields such as automobile repair,home repair and the like.

Various different types of socket holders include attachment structureswhich are difficult to manipulate with a single hand, and further arepositioned in cases, tool boxes or various other structures which canonly be positioned on flat surfaces. These issues make the use of suchtools difficult under certain circumstances, and it is therefore clearthat the need remains for improved devices for releasably holding toolsand tool components for convenient access by the tool user.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,317 discloses a holder having magnets arranged in anelongate channel to magnetically secure tools. While this holder doesprovide for suitable holding of tools such as sockets for a socketwrench set and the like, there is still a need for improvement of such adevice.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, a magnetic tool holder isprovided which has improved holding force, security and stability whenmounted to a work surface as compared to the device of U.S. Pat. No.6,923,317.

According to the invention, a magnetic tool holder is provided whichcomprises a body having a bottom and side walls defining an elongatecentral channel, wherein the bottom defines a first plane and ends ofthe side walls define a second plane, wherein the body further comprisesside edges laterally extending from said side walls in the second plane,and outer side walls extending from the side edges back to the firstplane; and at least one magnet in the elongate central channel, said atleast one magnet having a tool securing surface positioned substantiallycoplanar with said second plane.

The ends of the outer side walls as recited above define additionalcontact points in the first plane, which is the plane at which theholder is secured to a ferrous surface. The additional spaced pointsgive the holder a greatly increased holding force to the surface, andalso provide greater stability to the device against tipping over, forexample, due to the weight of objects secured thereto, tipping forcesfrom removing an object from the holder, or both.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present inventionfollows, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a tool holder according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,317;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a magnetic tool holder inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken through a magnetic tool holder inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a magnetictool holder in accordance with the present invention, including a clipin a closed position;

FIG. 5 illustrates the magnetic tool holder of FIG. 4 with the clip inan open position;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 having the clip in anopen position; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a magnetic tool holder inaccordance with the present invention in an environment of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a magnetic tool holder which advantageously canmagnetically secure sockets and other ferrous tools, whereby the shapeand size of the tools is not an obstruction to securing such tools onthe holder, wherein the tools are easily released from the tool holderin a single- handed maneuver, and wherein the holder itself can besecurely positioned to any ferrous support surface, be it horizontal orotherwise.

In addition, the magnet and body portion structure of the tool holder aswill be described below greatly enhances the magnetic holding ability ofthe tool holder such that sockets, wrenches and the like are securelyheld on the holder. The structure of the holder of the presentdisclosure, as compared to that of the prior art (see FIG. 1), producesa structure which greatly increase the holding force to a ferroussupport surface, and also greatly enhances the stability of the holderaccording to the invention, when secured to such a surface, againsttipping over.

Referring to FIG. 1, a known magnetic tool holder 10 is illustrated andincludes a body portion 12 and can include a handle member or gripmember (not shown). Further details of this holder can be found in U.S.Pat. No. 6,923,317, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Body portion 12 is an elongate member having a central portion 16 whichdefines a channel 18 for holding magnets 20 positioned along channel 18.

Body portion 12 also has side edges 24 which extend laterally fromcentral portion 16 in a plane. Magnets 20 are substantially flat magnetshaving surfaces 26, preferably planar surfaces 26, which are positionedin a plane with side edges 24 to hold ferrous objects such as sockets,socket wrenches and the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates a holder 50 in accordance with the present invention.Holder 50 has a body 52 having a bottom 54 and side walls 56 whichextend upwardly from bottom 54 to define an elongate central channel.Body 50 also has side edges 58 which extend laterally outwardly fromside walls 56, and outer side walls 60 which extend from side edges 58back toward the same plane in which bottom 54 is defined. At least onemagnet, and in the case illustrated, a plurality of magnets 62 arepositioned within the elongate central channel. Upper surfaces ofmagnets 62 are substantially co-planer with upper surfaces of side edges58 and define a plane A which is a tool securing surface. Outer sidewalls 60 preferably terminate in ends 64 which, as noted above,terminate in the same plane as bottom 54.

Body 52 can advantageously be made from a ferrous material such thatmagnetic flux from magnets 62 readily transfers through the material ofbody 52. This produces a holder 50 wherein the surface along plane B canadvantageously be used for securing to a ferrous support surface, andwherein the surface along plane A can advantageously be used to securevarious ferrous objects such as sockets, socket wrenches and the like.

Outer side walls 60 terminating in ends 64 within the same plane B asbottom 54 produces a configuration wherein magnetic attraction forcefrom magnets 62 to a ferrous support surface in contact with the surfaceof plane B is dramatically increased from the configuration of FIG. 1.Further, the spaced magnetic contact points defined by ends 64 of outersidewalls 60 create more stability for holder 50 when secured on asupport surface, such that there is less likelihood or tendency of theapparatus to tip such that the entire holder comes loose from thesupport surface. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, ends 64 are spaced from base54, defining a gap 65 in plane B between bottom 54 and each end 64. Thisconfiguration defines a three point contact with a surface to whichholder 50 is to be magnetically secured.

FIG. 3 shows an end view of holder 50 in accordance with FIG. 2, andfurther illustrates planes A and Band the structure of body 52 accordingto the invention, including sidewalls 56, side edges 58, outer sidewalls 60 and ends 64 which are substantially co-planar with bottom 54.As shown, an upper surface 63 of magnet 62 and side edges 58 defineplane A, and bottom 54 and laterally spaced ends 64 define plane B.

It should be appreciated that body 52 can advantageously be formed froma single sheet or plate of ferrous material and can be stamp formed orotherwise produced using any method of manufacture as would be known toa person of skill in the art.

FIG. 2 shows magnets 62 positioned such that the north and south polesof the magnets are alternating. That is, the magnetic pole of thealternating magnets 62 facing upward alternates N,S,N and so on. FIG. 2also shows the corresponding magnetic polarity created in holder 52. Itshould be readily appreciated that in some instances it may be desirableto position magnets 52 such that all poles are aligned in the samedirection, for example, all north poles face up and south poles facedown, or vice versa. Either of these configurations is considered tofall within the broad scope of the present invention. However, it ispreferred from the standpoint of maximum holding force for the magnetsto be positioned in alternating fashion as shown in FIG. 2.

The magnets can be any suitable type of magnet, such as neodymium, orneo, magnets, ferrite (ceramic) magnets and the like, as these magnetshave tremendous holding force and are relatively available in themarket. Alternatives, are of course possible within the broad scope ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 4-7 show an additional embodiment of the present disclosure,wherein holder 50 is provided with a clip 70 which can be used forreleasing holder 50 from a support surface when desired, and which canalso be used to hang holder 50 from a suitable storage hook or rack, asmay be desired.

Clip 70 can advantageously be a substantially rigid hardened wirestructure which can be pivotably mounted to body 52. Further, andreferring also to FIG. 6, clip 70 further preferably has an additionalextending portion 74 which pivots downwardly out of plane B of bottom 54and ends 64 when clip 70 is moved to the position of FIGS. 5 and 6. Inthis position, portion 74 extends beyond bottom 54 of holder 50 suchthat, when clip 70 is moved from the position of FIG. 4 to the positionof FIG. 5, portion 74 contacts surface Son which holder 50 is secured,and pushes holder 50 away from surface S so as to break the magnetichold and allow a user to more easily release the holder from a surfaceto which it is secured, when desired. As indicated above, clip 70preferably additionally has a head portion 72 which can be formed in theshape of a loop so that clip 70 can be used to hang holder from astorage hook or other storage assembly.

FIG. 7 shows holder 50 in a position of use, with bottom 54 and ends 64contacting a ferrous support surface, schematically illustrated bydashed lines at reference numeral 80. Further, a socket 90 for a socketwrench set is shown as an example of a tool element secured to holder50, specifically being magnetically held to magnets 62 and side edges58. As set forth above, this configuration produces a much greaterholding force of body 52 to support surface 80 as compared to theconfiguration of FIG. 1, and the spaced contact points of ends 64provide additional stability of holder 50 against tipping in either ofthe directions indicated by the double-headed arrow in the FIG. 7.

The configuration of the present invention enhances magnetic flux alongboth top and bottom surfaces of holder 50 to securely hold tools andalso be securely held on a work surface, for example inside a mechanic'stoolbox or on drawers of such a toolbox.

The spaced points of contact on the lower surface increase the bottomholding force by as much as five times the holding force of a onecontact point holder such as is shown in FIG. 1.

When a user detaches one or more tools or sockets by pulling in anupward direction, the extra holding force of the present invention alsohelps to reduce the chance of undesirable tilting of the entire holderduring such use.

A further advantage of the disclosed device is that holder 50 can alsobe used in the reverse position to that which is illustrated in FIG. 7.Specifically, in this method of use of the apparatus according to theinvention, the top surface of magnet 62 and side edges 58 can bepositioned facing toward the surface to which apparatus 50 is secured,while bottom surface 54 and edges 64 are used to secure various objects.In this mode of than in use, the objects are secured with less holdingforce the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7. This can be desired whenholder 50 is being used to secure tools or other items which arefrequently used, and which may be small and need less holding force.

Returning to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the embodiment illustrated, the topsurface 63 is shown slightly below the top surface of side edges 58. Inthis configuration, the apparatus still produces the advantageousadditional flux according to the invention. Alternatively, thesesurfaces could be in fact coplanar, and these configurations togetherare considered to be substantially coplanar as referred to herein.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theillustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merelyillustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and whichare susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts anddetails of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass allsuch modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined bythe claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetic tool holder configured to bemagnetically secured to a ferrous support surface, comprising: a bodyhaving a bottom defining a first securing surface and a pair of innerside walls defining an elongate central channel therebetween, whereinthe first securing surface defines a first plane and upper ends of thepair of inner side walls define a second plane, wherein the body furthercomprises a pair of side edges, each one of said pair of side edgeslaterally extending outward from a corresponding one of said pair ofinner side walls in the second plane away from said elongate centralchannel, and a pair of outer side walls each extending from acorresponding one of the side edges back to the first plane, each ofsaid pair of outer side walls being spaced apart from the first securingsurface to define a void between each of said pair of outer side wallsand the first securing surface, the first securing surface and bottomends of the pair of outer side walls are configured to form a threepoint contact with the ferrous support surface in the first plane; andat least one magnet in the elongate central channel, said at least onemagnet having a bottom surface and an opposite second securing surface,said bottom surface located within the elongate central channel facingsaid bottom of the body, said three point contact is configured toproduce a first magnetic attraction force between said at least onemagnet and the ferrous support surface, said pair of side edges in saidsecond plane and said second securing surface of the at least one magnetare configured to produce a second magnetic attraction force betweensaid at least one magnet and a ferrous tool surface, said first magneticattraction force is stronger than said second attraction force.
 2. Themagnetic tool holder of claim 1, wherein: said body portion isconstructed from a ferrous material such that said bottom and said outerside walls are polarized by said at least one magnet so that said bodycan be releasably secured in said first plane to the ferrous supportsurface.
 3. The magnetic tool holder of claim 1, wherein said at leastone magnet comprises a plurality of magnets each having opposed flatsurfaces defining north and south pole surfaces, and wherein saidplurality of magnets are positioned along said elongate central channelwith alternating north and south pole surfaces defining said secondsecuring surface.
 4. The magnetic tool holder of claim 1, wherein saidbottom, said pair of inner side walls, said pair of side edges and saidpair of outer side walls are formed from a single sheet of ferrousmaterial.
 5. The magnetic tool holder of claim 1, further comprising: aclip pivotably mounted to the body into a release position wherein aportion of the clip extends beyond the first plane and is configured topush the body away from said ferrous support surface when the body ismagnetically secured to the ferrous support surface.
 6. The magnetictool holder of claim 5, wherein said clip is loop shaped.
 7. Themagnetic tool holder of claim 1, wherein said second securing surface ofthe at least one magnet is positioned below said second plane betweensaid first plane and said second plane.
 8. The magnetic tool holder ofclaim 1, wherein said second magnetic attraction force acts to securethe ferrous tool surface to said magnetic tool holder, and said firstmagnetic attraction force acts to secure said magnetic tool holder tosaid ferrous support surface.
 9. The magnetic tool holder of claim 1,wherein said second securing surface of the at least one magnet ispositioned substantially coplanar with said second plane.
 10. A magnetictool holder configured to be magnetically secured to a ferrous supportsurface, comprising: a body made from a ferrous material having a bottomdefining a first securing surface and a pair of inner side wallsdefining an elongate central channel therebetween, wherein the firstsecuring surface of the body defines a first plane and upper endsurfaces of the pair of inner side walls define a second plane, the bodyfurther including a pair of side edges, each one of said pair of sideedges laterally extending outward from a corresponding one of said pairof inner side walls in the second plane away from said elongate centralchannel; the body further including a pair of outer side walls eachextending from a corresponding one of the side edges back to the firstplane, each of said pair of outer side walls being spaced apart from thefirst securing surface to define a void between each of said pair ofouter side walls and the first securing surface, the first securingsurface and bottom ends of the pair of outer side walls are configuredto form a three point contact with the ferrous support surface in thefirst plane; at least one magnet in the elongate central channel, saidat least one magnet having a first magnet surface and an opposite secondmagnet surface, said first magnet surface located within the elongatecentral channel facing said bottom of the body, and said second magnetsurface positioned below said second plane between said first plane andsaid second plane; and a clip having a first bottom end and a secondbottom end, wherein the first bottom end of the clip extends through oneinner side wall from said pair of inner side walls and the second bottomend of the clip extends through the other inner side wall from said pairof inner side walls to pivotably mount the clip to the body, the clipconfigured to rotate relative to the body to push the body away fromsaid ferrous support surface.
 11. The magnetic tool holder of claim 10,wherein: said first magnet surface and said first securing surface areconfigured to produce a first magnetic attraction force between said atleast one magnet and the ferrous support surface; said pair of sideedges in said second plane and said second magnet surface are configuredto produce a second magnetic attraction force between said at least onemagnet and a ferrous tool surface; and said first magnetic attractionforce is stronger than said second attraction force.
 12. The magnetictool holder of claim 11, wherein said second magnetic attraction forceis configured to secure the ferrous tool surface of a tool to saidmagnetic tool holder, and said first magnetic attraction force isconfigured to secure said magnetic tool holder to said ferrous supportsurface.
 13. The magnetic tool holder of claim 10, wherein said bottomand said outer side walls are polarized by said at least one magnet sothat said body can be releasably secured in said first plane to theferrous support surface.
 14. The magnetic tool holder of claim 10,wherein said bottom, said pair of inner side walls, said pair of sideedges and said pair of outer side walls are formed from a single sheetof ferrous material.
 15. The magnetic tool holder of claim 10, whereinsaid at least one magnet comprises a plurality of magnets each havingopposed flat surfaces defining north and south pole surfaces, andwherein said plurality of magnets are positioned along said channel withalternating north and south pole surfaces defining said second magnetsurface.